Yet despite wearing the occasional economic scar, Polyester Records is still there, serving its loyal and evolving clientele. “In 30 years, there’s definitely been times when it’s gone down to the wire,” says co-owner Nate Nott. “You always have really tight times, which is across the board for retail. You have to keep your focus, and keep trying to improve what you’re doing. And if you love what you’re doing, you’ll keep coming back. You might have some tough times, but you enjoy your times in the sun, and get ready to fight another battle!”
Nott started working at Polyester about ten years ago, before he and his current business partner, Simon Karis, decided to make the quantum leap from employee to business owner. “I grew up in Western Sydney, but I lived down here in about 2000, and Polyester was my local haunt back then,” Nott says. “I liked the mutual love for the music they were stocking here. I’d go around to all the record stores, as most music collectors do, and the guys and girls working behind the counter were always friendly, so I kept coming back.”
Since taking over the business, Nott and Karis have endeavoured to focus on the shop’s association with the local independent music scene – as well as affirming the staff’s involvement in the direction and stock of the shop. “We’re open to any record that’s good – we’re all pretty diverse with our tastes,” Nott says. “And reconnecting with the local music scene is really important to us as music fans, and it’s what an independent music store in the city should be.”
While Polyester Books in Brunswick Street has had its fair share of encounters with police and council authorities, Polyester Records has tended to navigate a less confrontational route. “Pushing the boundaries is what we love in music, but not what we try and do as a record store. We’re pretty happy to be a nice place to hang out and buy some records,” Nott laughs.
Nott says it’s enthusiasm and passion that provides the antidote for the occasionally temperamental economic and consumer climate. “There’s never really an easy week when you’re running a record store – it’s always about doing what you need to do to survive,” Nott says. “It might not make a lot of sense in terms of a business strategy, but it’s seriously about passion: we love turning up and running a music store every day. We’re passionate about the music, and it’s that dialogue that drives us to open the doors every week. We get to talk about music we like, and that they like – it’s a two-way conversation with our customers.”
As part of its 30 year anniversary, Polyester will be holding an in-store event at the festival hub to coincide with Melbourne Music Week in mid November. “In the few years that the festival’s been going, we’ve really loved what Melbourne Music Week has been doing,” Nott says. “We feel that the week isn’t being defined by one sound or mood. They’re getting behind Melbourne music, and also bringing in some really interesting stuff from overseas as well. We’re really excited to be working with them on our anniversary celebrations – we feel it’s a good fit with those guys, and their attitude and aesthetic.”
On the first Saturday of Melbourne Music Week, November 16, Polyester Records will host a birthday showcase. In addition to Max and Ela from Songs performing a rare duet set, the event will include sets from Beaches, New War, Chris Cohen, Terrible Truths and the delightfully styled Personal And The Pizzas from New Jersey. “Personal And The Pizzas are a bit of a mystery. They’re a three piece bunch of goons, swinging chains and whips and playing loud, dumb rock’n’roll, singing about pizza a bit. It could be a total mess – I’m banking on it being a total mess, actually,” Nott laughs.
BY PATRICK EMERY
